befriending

present participle of befriend

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of befriending Henrietta also had a particular fondness for befriending young women, and disseminating scientific works and sharing knowledge with them. Leah Hudson, Popular Science, 9 July 2026 Living in Rio de Janeiro, Luiza dreams of being an artist, eventually befriending a local graffiti group. Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 16 June 2026 Utterback, who’d just gotten married and bought a house in Omaha, instead devoted himself to learning on his own, poring over books, making regular trips to Japan, and befriending masters of the craft. Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 8 June 2026 Palmer-Tomkinson was friends with both William and Prince Harry, befriending them in childhood. Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 29 May 2026 Conrad Weiser was a Pennsylvania German who had roamed the frontier for decades, learning the Indian languages and befriending Indian leaders, including some who encountered Washington in Ohio. Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 Things take a turn when Snow, 40, who plays Sophie, moves to Texas and tries befriending the group of East Texas socialites — only for a teen girl named Abby to turn up dead. Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026 Beyond the Artforum ads, Bischofberger also made a significant contribution to the trajectory of contemporary art, personally befriending artists such as Francesco Clemente, Julian Schnabel, and Andy Warhol and even transforming their practices along the way. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 9 May 2026 This approach involves befriending the zeros inside large AI models. Olivia Hsu, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriending
Verb
  • The South African government has backed the Amazon deal, with Communications Minister Solly Malatsi joining Amazon and Herotel representatives to announce the agreement.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 July 2026
  • New Zealand will consider joining, Prime Minister Christopher ‌Luxon said on Thursday.
    Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • When not working, Carson enjoys playing chess, traveling, and cheering on the men's and women's basketball teams at his alma mater, the University of Connecticut.
    The Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 12 July 2026
  • Every year, a group of 50 boys must complete the titular Long Walk, traveling at 3mph or faster until only one remains.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026
Verb
  • The next section to the north, connecting through South Miami to the edge of Coral Gables, is virtually finished and set to officially open next month — though construction fencing is gone and people are already using it.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
  • Chevron is exploring a pipeline connecting Iraq’s oil patch with the Mediterranean Sea via Syria.
    J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 16 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Befriending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriending. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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